Drive or Fly: El Paso, TX to Buna, TX?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Flying wins

Medium

Flying saves significant time at this distance. Consider driving only if you enjoy the road trip.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

14h 31m

Distance

862.4 mi

Total Cost

$372

CO2

348 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$192

Hotel (1 room, 1 night) $110

Meals (1 pax, 2 days) $70

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

− Requires 2 days of driving

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 31m

1h 30m in the air

Air Distance

746 mi

Total Cost

$295

CO2

190 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

El Paso, TX → ELP 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 90m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BPT → Buna, TX 50m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $240) $240

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

El Paso, TX ELP — El Paso International Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

Buna, TX BPT — Jack Brooks Regional Airport 34 mi, ~50m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ELP and BPT. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 10h compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

22h 38m

21h 8m on rail

Total Cost

$148

CO2

43 kg

Route

Sunset Limited

Door-to-Door Timeline

El Paso, TX → El Paso 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1268m

Arrival 10m

Beaumont Amtrak → Buna, TX 40m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $148) $148

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From El Paso 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Beaumont Amtrak 27 mi, ~40m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 2 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	14h 31m	4h 31m	22h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$372	$295	$148
Carbon footprint	348 kg CO₂	190 kg CO₂	43 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 12, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from El Paso, TX to Buna, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.